Tetra Pak and Maeil Dairies Pioneer Industrial-Scale Deployment of Paper-Based Barrier Cartons for Plant-Based Beverages

Tetra Brik® Aseptic Slim 200 ml with paper-based barrier – Maeil Soy Milk 99.9

(IN BRIEF) Tetra Pak has expanded its paper-based barrier packaging technology to high-speed Tetra Pak® A3/Speed filling lines, with Maeil Dairies becoming the first producer globally to adopt the solution for its Soy Milk 99.9 in South Korea, demonstrating that renewable, low-carbon packaging can now be deployed at full industrial scale without compromising food safety or efficiency. The aluminium-free paper-based barrier, combined with plant-based polymers, enables a Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim carton with 87% renewable content and a 26% lower carbon footprint, while remaining fully compatible with high-output production of up to 24,000 packages per hour and requiring only a cost-effective induction-heating upgrade on existing lines. Supported by Tetra Pak’s 2023 breakthrough in aluminium-free cartons, the collaboration reinforces both companies’ commitment to circular packaging, improved recyclability, and measurable emissions reductions, while strengthening Maeil Dairies’ leadership in sustainable plant-based beverages and Tetra Pak’s role in driving industry-wide transition toward renewable materials.

(PRESS RELEASE) LAUSANNE, 10-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Tetra Pak has advanced its sustainable packaging strategy by extending its innovative paper-based barrier technology to high-speed Tetra Pak® A3/Speed filling lines, with Maeil Dairies in South Korea becoming the first producer worldwide to adopt the solution for its soy milk. The move represents a significant milestone in the broader industry transition toward renewable, low-carbon packaging materials, demonstrating that sustainability and large-scale industrial efficiency can go hand in hand.

The newly developed paper-based barrier replaces the traditional aluminium foil layer in aseptic cartons while maintaining equivalent levels of product protection and shelf life. When combined with plant-based polymers derived from sugarcane, the Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim carton used for Maeil Soy Milk 99.9 achieves 87% renewable content and reduces the package’s carbon footprint by 26%, as independently verified by the Carbon Trust. This development underlines Tetra Pak’s commitment to reducing the environmental impact of beverage packaging without compromising performance or safety.

A key aspect of this launch is the successful implementation of the new material on a Tetra Pak® A3/Speed filling machine, confirming that the paper-based barrier is fully compatible with high-speed production environments. The A3/Speed platform is capable of filling up to 24,000 packages per hour while maintaining strict food safety standards and cost efficiency. Importantly, existing A3/Speed lines can be upgraded with a high-frequency induction-heating sealing system, enabling manufacturers to transition to the new material without major capital expenditure.

Front view and high resolution image of the Tetra Pak® A3/Speed 0500 filling machine.

Tatiana Liceti, Executive Vice President of Packaging Solutions at Tetra Pak, emphasized that scalability is essential for meaningful sustainability progress. She noted that integrating the paper-based barrier into high-performance filling lines allows beverage producers to reduce their environmental footprint while preserving operational reliability and cost competitiveness.

For Maeil Dairies, the introduction of the new packaging represents a natural evolution of its long-standing focus on innovation and environmental responsibility within the plant-based beverage category. As a pioneer in the low-sugar soy milk segment in South Korea, the company views this collaboration with Tetra Pak as a strategic step toward more sustainable product offerings.

Inki Lee, Chief Operating Officer of Maeil Dairies, highlighted that the new packaging for Soy Milk 99.9 aligns with the company’s commitment to forward-looking, responsible business practices. He emphasized that working with Tetra Pak enables Maeil to drive meaningful environmental change while continuing to meet consumer expectations for quality and safety.

Tetra Pak first introduced its aluminium-free aseptic carton in 2023, marking a major breakthrough in sustainable packaging design. By simplifying the material structure from three layers to two, the innovation enhances recyclability and improves the recovery of high-quality paper fibers. The combination of a paper-based barrier with plant-based coatings further increases renewable content and delivers measurable carbon footprint¹ reductions across the product’s lifecycle.

Media contacts
Marcin Pawelec
PR Manager – Packaging
Marcin.Pawelec@tetrapak.com

^{1Compared to the same reference package. Source: Carbon Trust™-verified Tetra Pak ‘Carton CO2 Calculator’ model version 12 (valid from 2026-01-01). Scope: cradle-to-grave measurement of a Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim carton with plant-based polymers in coating and paper-based barrier compared to a standard Tetra Brik® Aseptic 200 Slim package with aluminium foil and fossil-based polymers. Geography: global data.}

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We’re here to make food safe and available. It’s why we provide advanced food production systems. In collaboration with our customers and suppliers, driven by more than 24,000 dedicated employees worldwide, we protect food sustainably every day for hundreds of millions of people in more than 160 countries. Because we’re here to fulfil a purpose: We commit to making food safe and available, everywhere, and we promise to protect what’s good: food, people and the planet. More information about Tetra Pak is available at tetrapak.com.

SOURCE: Tetra Pak